Turn indicator with automatic cancellation



c. A. ass-r EIAL TURN INDICATOR WITH AUTOMATIC CANCELLATION File d Oct.14, 1950 Sept. 8, 1953 2 Sheet s-Sheet 1 INVENTORS CLEAFE A BEST ANDLLOYD E JOHNSON ATTORNEY Sept. 8, 1953 c. A. BEST ETAL TURN INDICATORWITH AUTOMATIC CANCELLATION Filed Oct. 14. 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTORS CLEAFE A- BEST w LLOYD E- JOHNSON ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 8,1953 TURN INDICATOR WITH AUTOMATIC CANCELLATION Cleafe A. Best, Jackson,and Lloyd E. Johnson, Parma, Mich., assignors to Sparks-WithingtonCompany, Jackson, Mich., a corporation of Ohio Application October 14,1950, Serial No. 190,235

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in signaling apparatus forvehicles of the type wherein the operator is provided with manuallyinitiated means for indicating the direction in which the vehicle is toturn; there being automatic means for cancelling the turn indicationupon completion of the turn.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an apparatusof the type defined which is especially adapted for installation as anaccessory upon vehicles now in use.

Another object is to provide a turn indicating apparatus which isadapted to be installed upon various vehicles of difl'erent make andmodel without alteration or the provision of special adaptors.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improvedself-cancelling turn indicator which may be inexpensively manufacturedand installed upon the steering column of the automobile.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent when takenwith the following specification and claims and the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. I is an elevational view showing the manner in which the presentinvention is adapted to the steering wheel and column,

Fig. 11 is a top view of the turn indicator switch mechanism with theupper section of the housing in position,

Fig. III is a view similar to Fig. II with the upper section of thehousing removed and taken on the line III-III of Fig. I.

Fig. IV is an end view of the switch mechanism with the end plateremoved with the rocker plate in its neutral position,

Fig. V is a view similar to Fig. IV with the rocker plate in a positionindicating a left turn,

Fig. VI is a detail of the switch actuator attached to the steeringwheel, and

Fig. VII is a detail side view of the switch box with the side shownbroken away to expose the interior.

Referring to the illustrated form of the invention, the turn indicatorswitch mechanism comprises a housing or frame structure Ill having upperand lower sections I2 and I4 separated along the line I6, to receive thelever 20 which is engaged at 22 to rock the same from its neutralposition into either a right or left turn indicating position. A screw24 holds the sections I2 and 14 together and also serves as a pivot bypassing through a hole 26 in the lever 20.

As more clearly shown in Fig. III, the lever Section I2 is notched atl8.

(Cl. ZOO-61.34)

is flattened at 28 to provide a flat wide portion in which the pivothole 26 and. the elongated slot 36 are defined. The outer end 32 ispreferably of round section to be received in the elongated hOle 34 inthe rocker plate 36. The switch box 38 has a center post 40 whichextends into the slot 30. Spring means 42 within the box 38 urges thecontact blocks 44 into their neutral position, as well as the post 40,away from both the right and left contacts (not shown) which, whenengaged by the contact blocks 44, close the associated circuits in whichthe turn indicator lights (not shown) are located. The post 40 has ayoke 40a which engages the blocks 44 with a slide fit except for theengagement with the shoulders 40b of the blocks 44, the shoulder engageddepending upon the direction of movement of the post 40. Movement ofeither block 44 compresses the spring 42 with the at rest position beingshown in Fig. VII.

When the lever 20 is rocked into either of the dotted line positionsshown in Fig. 11 the plate 36 is rocked around its pivot 48 with thespring ball detent 50 engaging into one of the depressions 52 to holdthe plate 36 in its rocked position against the stress of the springmeans 42 tending to urge the plate 36 into the neutral position of Fig.IV. In the position of Fig. V the lever 20 is being held in the dottedline position 54 of Fig. II and the circuit is closed indicating a leftturn. In the position 56 a right turn would be indicated.

Manual cancellation of the switch mechanism may be effected by engagingthe lever 20 in either of the dotted line positions 54 and 56 of Fig. IIand moving the same into the full line or neutral position. Toaccomplish cancellation automatically, fingers 58 and 60 are pivoted tothe plate 36 on shoulder rivets 62. A spring 64 connected to extensions66 holds the fingers 58 and 66 against stops 68 formed by deflectedposition of the plate 36. The arrangement permits the fingers 58 and 60to rock in a direction away from the stops 68 without rocking the plate36. However, if a force is applied to the fingers 58 and 60 which actsagainst a stop 68 the plate 36 will be rocked about its pivot 48.

Slots 76 are provided in the section [2 which the fingers 58 and 66project when the plate 36 is rocked out of its neutral position as shownin Fig. V. With the right turn circuit closed as shown in Fig. V, thefinger 58 is projected through the slot '10 to locate the end 12 of thefinger 58 beyond the section l2 in a position to be engaged by a part orparts on the through steering wheel. Such engagement, with the steeringwheel being rotated clockwise, will rock the finger 58 away from itsstop 68 and no movement is imparted to the plate 36. Upon completion ofthe right turn, counter-clockwise rotation of the steering wheel willresult in the end 12 of the finger 58 being engaged. As relativemovement thereof counter-clockwise is prevented by the stop 68, theplate 36 will be rocked into the neutral position of Fig. IV under theaction of the spring means 42. after the. initial holding action of thedetent in the depression 52 has been. overcome.

While it is anticipated that the finger ends #2 may engage the spokes ofthe steering wheel, in practice it has been found desirable to equip asingle spoke of the wheel or the hub with a projection extending intothe path of which the portion it of the fingers t8 and 68 may beprojected. Such a projection may take many forms. In Fig. V1 is shown ametal stamping 14: having barbs P6 to prevent relative movement on thespoke 18. A spring 80 holds the stamping "M firmly in position with theextension 82 engaging the ends l2- of the fingers 58 and (it to rock theplate 36 to effect automatic cancellation of the turn manually indicatedafter the turn is. completed.

It will be noted that the axis of the pivots for the lever and plate 36are disposed in the same plane although normal to each other. While thisis the preferred arrangement, it is anticipated that the angularitybetween the axis of the pivot just mentioned may be changed from thatshown, all within the scope of the invention.

Operated in time relationship with the contacts controlling the turnindicating circuits. are con tacts in the circuits of the light 84 whichis located below the color lens 86 of the top of section l2. When theturn indicator isv functioning out of its neutral position the lens 86will glow to indicate the operating condition of the device.

The mounting structure for the switch in, as shown in Fig. I, comprisesa channel member 88 to receive the steering wheel column 90 with a straptype clamp 92 holding the same in adjusted position. At the upper end ofthe member 88 is a lateral bracket member 94 slotted at to receive theadjustment bolt 98-. The lower face of the section M is formed with agroove It): in which the bracket 96 has a sliding fit to prevent pivotalmovement about. the bolt 98 yet permit the switch ill to be moved in andout relative to the column 90. The electrical conduits are indicated atits with a suitable clamp iii-5 holding the same along the column 9t.Adjustment of the member 88 along the column 90 will adjust the positionof the ends '52 of the finger 58 and relative to the operating part onthe steering wheel I03.

We claim:

1. A turn indicator switch mechanism adapted to be installed adjacentthe steering wheel of an automobile with automatic cancellationperformed by the rotation of the steering wheel comprising a rockablemember, pivot means about which said member is rocked in oppositedirections, a pair of fingers supported on said member for bodilymovement therewith and relative movement thereto only as rotationalmovement about fixed axes; pivot means for said fingers upon said memberto provide said fixed axes, stops upon saidmember, spring means engagingsaid fingers to rock the same into engagement with said stops, amanually actuated lever for rocking said member having a handle at oneend and a portion at the opposite end engaging said member to rock thesame to right or left positions from a neutral position, a pivotalmounting for said lever intermediate its ends for rocking movementthereof about an axis substantially normal to the axis about which saidmember is rocked by said lever, spring detent means for holding saidmember in right, left and neutral positions, a switch adapted to closeand open a pair of turn indicating circuits operatively engaged by saidlever to one side of its pivot to be actuated thereby upon rockingmovement of said lever and member, said fingers upon rocking movement ofsaid member into right and left positions being projected alternatelyinto the path of means rotatable with the steering wheel wherebyengagement with said fingers in a direction abutting said stop resultsin said member being rocked from its neutral position and engagementwith said finger in the opposite direction results in said fingersrocking on their respective pivots relative to said memher to permit themeans moving with the wheel to pass without actuation of said member.

2. A turn indicator switch mechanism for vehicles comprising a housing,a rockable plate having a pivot supported from said housing, a pair offingers pivotally mounted on said plate in spaced relation to said pivotand on opposite sides of a plane through the axis of said pivot,

stops on said plate engaged by said fingers tolimit relative pivotalmovement of said fingers on said plate in one direction while permittingsuch movement in an opposite direction, spring means holding saidfingers against said stops and yielding to the pivotal movement of saidfingers relative to said plate, right, left, and neutral detent stationson said plate, a positioning detent supported on said housing forengagement with said stations upon rocking movement of said plate, aslot in said plate elongated along an axis in said plane, a switchhaving right, left, and neutral positions, spring means energized bymovement of said lever into either right or left positions forcontinuously urging said switch into neutral position, an operatinglever supported on said housing for rocking movement about. a pivothaving its axis disposed in said plane and angularly disposed to theaxis of said plate pivot, said lever extendin in opposite directionsfrom its pivot to provide an outer handle portion and in inner plateactuating position, said inner portion at its extremity engaging in saidelongated slot to rock said plate upon rocking movement of said lever,an operative connection between said switch and a part of said leverbetween said extremity and said lever pivot to actuate said switch intoright and left positions, structure for supporting said housing in aposition projecting alternately said fingers into the path of a partmoving with the steering wheel of the vehicles with said plate rockedinto right or left positions with said fingers yielding to movement awayfrom their respective stops and rocking said plate toward the neutralposition when urged toward their respective stops, said detent holdingsaid plate in said right and left station against the action of saidsecond spring means with said second spring means urging said plate intoneutral position.

3. A turn indicator switch mechanism of the self cancelling type adaptedfor installation on the steering wheel column of a vehicle comprising acasing, a bracket for connecting said casing to said column beneath thewheel, an opening defined in one side of said casing, a hand lever eX-tending through said opening, a pivotal connection with an intermediateportion of said lever located Within said casing adjacent said side forsupporting said lever for pivotal movement about an axis substantiallyparallel to the longitudinal axis of said column, a switch within saidcasing, an actuator means for said switch within said casing including arocker member, a pivotal connection for said rocker member forsupporting the same for rocking movement about an axis substantiallynormal to said first axis, the inner end of said lever engaging withsaid member to rock the same, a pair of fingers upon said member,opening in the upper side of said casing through which said fingersextend upon rocking by said actuation by said lever to selectivelyposition one of said fingers into a plane parallel to the steeringwheel, means pivotally connecting said fingers upon said member andabutment structure on said member engaged by said finger to limit thepivotal movement of said finger in the opposite direction.

CLEAFE A. BEST.

LLOYD E. JOHNSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,748,439 Bugh Feb. 25, 1930 2,299,876 Breeze Oct. 27, 19422,542,242 Fuller Feb. 20, 1951

